Emergency plan approved to stem decline in Grade Six English, Math

Last Updated on Thursday, 10 November 2016, 18:15 by Denis Chabrol

In the face of steadily declining performances in English and Mathematics,  government has given it stamp of approval for a seven-point plan to arrest the situation, Minister of State Joseph Harmon announced on Thursday.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that Harmon said the strategy is termed the “Emergency Education intervention for improved performance in Mathematics by students in Grade Six.”

The programme entails training of teachers in content and methodology, facilitating fortnightly cluster meetings in all regions,  recruitment of mathematics coordinators and monitors,  training of officers and school administrators to supervise the teaching of mathematics,  preparing and administering a diagnostic assessment of pupils in the hinterland before training,  enhancement of public relations and parental involvement in the education of  children and the acquisition of support materials for students.

Minister Harmon said that after a very thorough discussion, financing of the plan was approved and the sum of $48, 682, 690 granted for its implementation, which has already begun. Further sums, he added, will be approved as the strategy continues to be implemented in 2017 and onwards.

The National Council for Education Research and Development (NCERD), Minister Harmon explained, has also moved to address the Mathematics deficiency by several interventions. These include the rehiring of teachers who left the education sector due to retiring or other issues including measures to attract those based overseas, increasing the available number of persons able to teach the subject, and the holding of conferences for teachers across the country to prepare for the strategy being implemented.